Morgan Carter

New York City Restaurant Week’s winter edition is back! More than 500 restaurants are offering special pre fixe specials citywide from January 20 to February 12. This year’s price points are $30, $45 and $60 for brunch, lunch and dinner menus on the days of each venue’s choosing. With so many sensational spots and so little time to taste them all, it can be hard to narrow the field. Luckily, we've thumbed through the list and highlighted the top options to snag that reservation. Check out the best places to visit and everything to order during NYC Restaurant Week this winter. Updated January 2026: The beginning of the year can spell a slump for restaurants, as most of us have fallen into hibernation, particularly after the holiday spending period. But the lure of Restaurant Week and all of the savings that come with it should compel you to venture out, particularly as you can snag a two-, three- and four-course meals for under $100. As of January 7, Restaurant Week reservations are now live at over 580 restaurants, all boroughs included. We did the due diligence of thumbing through the entire list (yes, seriously), sorting out the best deals to book this season. On our winter update, you can find new additions to the list, Bar Mercer and SEA by Jungsik. We also removed a few places that are not participating this year, as well as a few restaurants whose menus are not yet live, including The Fulton, Gage & Tollner, Gui Steakhouse, Lore and Nudibranch. Check back near Februar

Name recognition and lore will always attract a certain number of people to “iconic” restaurants, but do long lines and waiting lists and wall-to-wall reservations mean that they’re worth going to? To call a restaurant “iconic” means that it’s more than just a place to eat—it’s a symbol for tradition, its respective niche, and maybe most importantly, the city itself. But ask any New Yorker and they’ll tell you: many “iconic” restaurants coast on hype and reputation. So what should you look for when you want to have a great experience at a supposedly “iconic” New York restaurant? We’ve boiled it down to three criteria: consistent quality, value for time and/or money, and, in the absence of a single-star dish, an overall experience that’s emblematic of something larger—a neighborhood, a cuisine, a style. Maybe you’re visiting. Maybe you’re a newcomer. Maybe you’ve lived here for years and haven’t gone to any place you’ve heard about because you’re afraid it would hurt your cred. Well, take this as permission. Every place below is worth a visit at least once.Updated January 2026: Searching our souls, it didn’t really feel right to recommend places whose line is prohibitively long and you’ve probably heard of anyway. We’ve also swapped out any places that are only worth the visit to tick off a box on a list–whatever else they may be, every place on here serves delicious food. Finally, we swapped out some overhyped spots in order to highlight different cultures and cuisines–what m

Reservations for NYC Restaurant Week are live! Over 500 restaurants are offering seriously discounted prix-fixe meals, priced at $30, $45 and $60, from January 20 to February 12, 2026. So now is the time to thumb through your bucket list of restaurants and make a reservation, ASAP. Even better, several of NYC’s award-winning restaurants are participating, including a few recognized by the Michelin Guide, from the Bib Gourmands to those that have captured those coveted stars. Just think of it this way: these Michelin-rated restaurants will be providing the same quality meal at seriously discounted prices, so everyone wins, especially your wallet. Here are our top Michelin Guide-rated restaurants to book for NYC Restaurant Week. RECOMMENDED: The best things to order at NYC Restaurant Week’s top spots for winter 2026 Updated January 2026: We thumbed through each Michelin-rated restaurant and updated menu options and pricing for each. We added a few Bib Gourmands to this list this go around, including Dhamaka and Nami Nori. We removed Le B and Nougatine at Jean-Georges.

The holidays seem to start earlier and fly by faster every year. One way to extend all that cheer and good will is to pack these fleeting weeks with all manner of topical activities. In addition to the classics like tree-peeping and light-looking, New York City has plenty of on-the-reindeer’s-nose holiday pop-up bars to immerse yourself in the spirit of the season—with spirits—throughout the most wonderful time of the year. So gather your loved ones and go on a little Christmas crawl this year, why don't you? RECOMMENDED: See the full guide to Christmas in New York Updated December 8, 2025: December is here and we are in fully holiday mode baby. Perfect for visiting parties or groups who just need a bit of holiday cheer, we've recently added two new wintry experiences to check out this month: Gnomeo's at Romeo's and Le Chalet at L’Avenue at Saks. We've also updated opening dates and holiday hours so you can book your annual appointment to drink out of a Christmas ornament, early. 

As the nights draw in and the chill sets through the air, there’s no denying it: spooky season has officially arrived. The pumpkins are carved, the costume’s nailed and now there’s just one thing left to summon… a Halloween playlist wicked enough to get even the undead on their feet. Sure, the classic Halloween songs still reign supreme – we’re talking ‘Thriller’, ‘Ghostbusters’ and all the usual heavy-hitters. But lately, a new wave of pop phantoms has emerged to soundtrack your October nights. From Olivia Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend bleeding her dry, to the enchanting spellwork of Lady Gaga a.k.a Mother Monster herself, with a detour through the slick, otherworldly beats of K-Pop’s most stylish demons – Halloween playlists have, quite literally, come back to life. Our favourite Halloween playlist songs for 2025 at a glance: Most iconic Halloween track: ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson Best new Halloween anthem: ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga Most dramatic Halloween song: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras Best Halloween anthem with a K-Pop twist: ‘Your Idol’ by Saja Boys Best Halloween track to dance to: ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers RECOMMENDED: 👻 The best Halloween movies of all time 🎤 The best karaoke songs 🎵 The best songs of 2025 so far 🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 45 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalogue of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For classy Caribbean: Kabawa - At chef Paul Carmichael's tasting counter, you'll find simmering and slow-cooked goat, pepper shrimp and all the vibes (East Village) For an excellent steakhouse: Hawksmoor - Aged steaks, a stunning dining hall and an excellent sticky toffee pudding are the calling cards of this London-born import (Gramercy) For trendy pizza: Mama's Too - A New York slice shop that dabbles in triangle and square slices (Upper East Side and West Village) For dinner party like vibes: Dept of Culture – Chef Ayo Balogun's nightly dinner party includes fiery pepper soup among its Nigerian fare (Bed Stuy) For exciting Mexican: Oxomoco – A fun, wood-fired Mexican spot with creative tacos and standout frozen cocktails (Greenpoint) January 2026: Happy New Year, everyone! While I am not

Every drink seems ideal when you're at the perfect bar. Your dive’s beer is frosty, rooftops send you soaring toward the clouds and cocktail destinations shake and stir myriad ingredients into ideally calibrated glassware—leaps above what you try to craft at home. The options are unending, the ice is nicer and you aren’t just drinking, you’re at the spot.  Whether you're dabbling in low-ABV libations, making your way through dedicated martini menus or collecting passwords for pseudo speakeasies, there is an ideal location for every taste, tolerance and occasion. Find them among the 50 best bars in NYC right now. Best NYC bars at a glance: For a taste of old New York - The Dead Rabbit - One of New York's best cocktail bars continues to serve up the smoothest pours of Guinness and one of the best Irish Coffees, period. (Financial District) For a boozin' and a bite: Bar Snack - Excellently fun cocktails with snacks like pickled dusted cheese curds and spice bags (Chelsea) For a late-night croon and swoon: Saint Tuesday - A well-hidden bar found several flights underneath the Walker Hotel Tribeca (Tribeca) For Korean snacks, sips n' such: Sunn's – Sunny Lee's banchan-based bar is a welcome find in Chinatown for natty wines and close quarters. (Chinatown) For tiki anytime of year: Sunken Harbor Club - The speakeasy above Gage & Tollner didn't stay secret for long. And how could it? Their range of tiki cocktails make for some seriously boozy nights. (Downtown Brooklyn) Updated

Your out-of-towner friend wants “something cool,” your date wants ambiance, and you want some local-insider-knowledge cred—NYC speakeasy time. Sure, the trend peaked years ago, when people were wearing suspenders and waxing mustaches and riding fixed-gear bikes for some ungodly reason. Back then, pretensions ran high. But today, it’s all way less serious. The idea works a little better now, tends to be handled with more self-awareness and less self-righteousness. And look: there are no speakeasies. And nothing is truly secret in New York. I mean, you’re reading this. Still, some places effectively toy with the “speakeasy” concept and manage to pull it off, and that’s what we’re here to run down. RECOMMENDED: The best bars in NYC right now There are plenty of bars with unmarked entrances—ones that feel “secret,” not because they’re perpetrating a deliberate trick but just because they’re down a staircase or off a subway platform. Some of these are my favorite bars, places I’m always happy to highlight. But being hard to find does not a speakeasy make. We’ve tried to stick with separating the inconspicuous from places that truly perform a bit of sleight-of-hand. Updated January 5, 2026: Since we last toured the speakeasy-ish landscape, a few doors have quietly shut and a few new ones have flung wide open. We’re missing standout bars like Nothing Really Matters and Angel Share in this go-around, yes. But we had some tough choices to make if we were to bring you real variety and

Diners have a special place in New Yorkers’ hearts. Many of them have stood in their spots for years as regulars come and go with their cups of coffee and bags of donuts; others are brand-new, opened with the idea of reinventing diner food or recreating the vintage vibes of the diner’s heyday. Whether you’re looking for an updated take on the genre to cheap eats at a classic greasy spoon, NYC diners do it all. Check out some of the city’s most iconic burgers and sandwiches, taste an egg cream or ice box cake that’ll knock your socks off and join the long tradition of New Yorkers who have created community in the timeless draw of a diner. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC December 2025: New York is truly home to all manner of tried-and-true classics and fresh takes on the humble diner. For our update, we tried to strike a balance between both, adding in updated information for the West Village's beloved La Bonbonniere and Mike's Diner located in Clinton Hill. We also added Thai Diner and Kellogg's Diner to the list. We removed Cozy Soup 'n' Burger, Gena's Grill, Tom's and Waverly Restaurant. 

Brooklyn’s culinary landscape is one of the finest in the world, hosting many of the best restaurants and bars in New York City and beyond. The borough has so many excellent pizza places, BBQ and brunch options, one could spend a lifetime trying them all. If you need a place to get started, look here and peruse through our favorite 23 places for a quick bite, sit-down dinner, or fine dining affair.   RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC December 2025: This list hadn't been touched in some time, and was in need of quite an overhaul. We added some of our favorites that we went back to over the course of 2025, including Theodora, Pitt's, LaRina Pastificio & Vino and L'Industrie. We also added some stellar stars, including Kellogg's Diner, Sailor, Taqueria Ramirez and Win Son Bakery. We removed Clover Hill, Purple Yam, Olmstead, Rangoon and Ugly Baby as they closed. We also removed Agi’s Counter, Atti, Bamboo Garden, Birds of a Feather, Claro, Em Vietnamese Bistro, Govinda's Vegetarian Lunch, Gus’s Chop House, Haenyeo, Hart’s, Inga’s Bar, Kokomo, La Vara, L&B Spumoni Gardens, Nura, Ras Plant Based, Reyes Deli & Grocery, Rana Fifteen, Sofreh, Shan, Win Son and Vinegar Hill House. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out.

December 2025 update: There's new songs being added to karaoke machines on a regular basis, so we see it as our duty to keep this list bang up to date. Our latest additions include a K-Pop Demon Hunters anthem, as well as an addicitve tune courtesy of Benson Boone. Whether you’ve got the voice of an angel or you’re totally tone deaf, karaoke unites us all. But heed our warning: choosing the right song is crucial (aka, don’t opt for that Whitney Houston tune if you haven’t the range. And if you don't quite have the skill, steer clear of rapping.) So we thought we’d help out a little bit. In our list of the best karaoke songs ever, we’ve got everyone from Adele to Toto, and from Frank Sinatra to Ricky Martin. There's even recent singalongs from Sabrina Carpenter, Huntr/x and Chappell Roan. Something for everyone. So down that shot, grab that mic and take to the stage. Your audience awaits you. Here are the best karaoke songs ever.  RECOMMENDED:❤️ The best love songs🎶 The 40 best songs of 2025🎉 The best party songs🕺 The 25 best albums of 2025  

The best brunch in NYC can be found every day of the week. Saturday brunch is the best time to gear up for the night ahead, Sundays are perfect for relaxing and a weekday brunch is a rarefied treat designated for ad hoc time off—we would know. We make brunch our business. It doesn’t matter so much when you do it, but where you do it. And whether you skew more toward the breakfast or lunch ends of the portmanteau’s spectrum, toward coffee or mimosas, these are the best brunch destinations in NYC.  December 2025: After a recent visit, we updated our entry for Kokomo, the hip Brooklyn lounge doling out Caribbean eats. We also added Miami-born, Mediterranean newcomer, Motek, to the list. Hummus platter, anyone?  For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out. Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Participating in Dry January doesn't mean you have to hibernate. Sober and sober-curious minds can easily find their place in New York's scene, as mocktails with intention are now the norm, and there are plenty of spirited (but spirit-free) celebrations to participate in. Looking for more ways to get social? This chic supper club is giving you a chance for a little dine and dance.  The global sober morning dance movement, Daybreaker, is taking over the night with its Sober Supper Club. As part of their winter DUSK Series, the community-minded movement is teaming up with the Tulum-inspired restaurant, Gitano, for an evening of food, elevated zero-proof cocktails, and, naturally, dancing. The kick-off event offers three ticketed options to explore, including a full dine-and-dance experience with seated service centered around their modern Mexican eats. But if you'd rather get your groove on, you can select mocktails and dance or the dance-only experience.   The event goes down on January 21 from 6:30-10pm. Tickets start at $65 and go up to the $135. Capacity is limited, so sign up here. 

Sushi Nakazawa was a bit of a revelation when its doors swung open in 2013. Chef Daisuke Nakazawa's arrival in New York brought a certain fervor, galvanizing diners with an apprenticeship under sushi legend Jiro Ono, which was thoroughly documented in Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Evidence that he learned much from his teacher, Nakazawa's edomae-style cuisine ushered in its own era of dining in New York, spawning countless counters that have yet to fall out of style. Over a decade later, Sushi Nakazawa continues to do what it does best: coaxing out the true nature of the fish laid before you. Talented staff play with the temperature to create a chilled uni that doesn't so much melt as dissolve in the mouth. While pinky slices of grouper are gently dusted with lemon zest, that's so good it guarantees an eye-roll. If you struggle to get through 20-plus courses of buttery and bouncy scallops and cuts of medium to fatty salmon, you can always ask for less rice as the meal continues on. But if you end up swimming in stride, you can request your favorite cut at the finish line. Don't forget to save room for Nakazawa's tamago, which was perfected all those years ago.  Yes, the price has risen over the years (now $160 in the dining room, $190 at the counters), and the footprint expanded, with service spilling out into a side room and at a mini counter near the front. You can also find Sushi Nakazawa in other cities, including Washington, D.C. Still, growth aside, this one particular sushi de

The big game deserves a bigger watch party! You're invited to the ultimate all-day football celebration watch party in NYC. Time Out Market New York, Brooklyn, will have all the screens for a good game day watch, plus live tunes from DJ Enuff and Mike Medium. Of course, you'll have your pick of stellar food vendors representing the best food of NYC, including Bark Barbecue, Pastrami Factory and Wayla. Thirsty? We've got all the specials on cocktails, beer buckets and pitchers, plus sips and samples exclusively from WhistlePig Whiskey. Also, don't forget to enter our $3 mystery raffle for a chance to win fun surprises and swag. You can get more tickets with the purchase of beer buckets or pitchers. Even better? It is all free to attend. So we will see you on game day!   

The most romantic day of the year is almost here. But looking past the commercialism of it all, the tragically large Teddy bears, fake roses and chalky candy hearts that are downright disgusting (my opinion, of course), we want to bring Valentine's Day back to the basics—celebrating the day with the one you love. If you are looking for a casual night out with a touch of romance, Time Out Market New York, Brooklyn, is here for you and your sweetheart.   On Valentine's Day, Time Out Market is bringing the love: a section of the Market will be sectioned off for you and your sweetheart, made more intimate with candlelit tables and music from award-winning violinist Mapy, the Violin Queen. Guests can sip on complimentary glasses of prosecco and dine on a variety of delicious options found in the Market. Tickets are $6 and include one glass of prosecco. Seats are limited, so be sure to RSVP today.  

Jiro dreamed of sushi. I dream of tapas—at least the affordable kind you find in Spain. Lucky for me, an authentic tapas experience can now be found in the East Village—with most small plates flying under the $10 mark. Al-Andalus follows a simple Arabic proverb: “There is salt and bread between us." And they certainly make good on that promise as tables fill nightly with vegan, Andalusian-inspired tapas, served in a space fit for Moroccan royalty—think beautiful rugs and brass lanterns from Cairo, which emanate a soft-yellow glow. To order, guests receive a paper menu and red golf pencils—ticking off a bread dish here, a grill item there. Everything is under $10 except for the shareable plates and veggie paella, including the cocktails, beer and wine, which arrive in ornamental tea cups with gold trim. Start with the crostini, ladled with creamy butter beans, heirloom tomatoes and bits of bitter kale to cut through the richness. Then try not to shovel the charred, blackened mushroom skewers too fast. Or, if you can't help it, ensure each bite has a tear of mint and pickled red onions, plus a swoop of the generously garlicky toum. Meat substitutes will make you miss the real thing here. The shakshuka's scrambled bits of fake egg weren't enough to give the dish the heartiness it needed, making for seasoned spoonfuls of thick tomato sauce and not much else. The golden, braided simit bread, crusted with black and white sesame seeds, was a bit dry and could’ve been helped by tangy

Game Night Fridays are back at Time Out Market New York! Kick off your weekend with a little action at Game Night Fridays at Time Out Market New York, Brooklyn. Challenge your friends to your favorite board and card games, always free, always on Friday. To set the vibe, DJ Stretch and DJ Price Is Right will be spinning music all night long. It all goes down on our fifth-floor rooftop, complete with incredible views of the skyline. Whether you’re a competitive gamer or just here for the music and drinks, Game Night Fridays is your new end-of-week tradition.  Game Night Fridays goes down every Friday from 7pm to 11pm. 

The last time I visited 397 Tompkins Avenue in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy was when the queer bar Oddly Enough stood in its place. Even then, I found it quite odd that the space was a bit of a dim, lounge-like something, particularly with the amount of personality and color that exploded out onto the streets. Now, a new cantina dedicated to Mexican culture resides in its stead, its bright green facade signaling just a fraction of the vibrancy that is found inside.  Even though we are well past its July debut, Dolores always reads a little like summer—excitable chatter, clinking of cocktails (some of which are in cutesy cactus vessels) and clatter of shuffling dominoes. Some of that lived-in warmth can be attributed to owners Cressida Greening and Emir Dupeyron, who have a knack for creating a homey space. The couple ran Winona's for five years before it sadly closed its doors in December 2025.  For this cozy cantina, Dupeyron draws on his childhood spent in Mexico City, crafting a menu of deep-green ceviches with calamari and snappy shrimp, braised beef tongue, cochnita pibil tacos and specials that feature fajitas and enchiladas, depending on the day of your visit. Co-owner and beverage director Leanne Favre (previously of Clover Club and Leyenda) also transports guests to the sunny streets of Mexico with a cocktail menu that features white Negronis sweetened with tepache and a spicy play on a rum and Coke with jerk-infused tequila. The pinky michelada, however, is the star, one tha

Your game day destination can be found in Dumbo. All football season long, Time Out Market New York, Dumbo, will be streaming all the games and you are invited. Upgrade your Sunday watch with the ultimate tailgate experience—whether you're here for the touchdowns and celebrations or purely just the vibes. Gather your crew and root on your favorites over beer buckets and specials on pitchers, plus shareable game day bites that can be ordered right to your table. Multiple screens will be showing the games, including the Lobby Bar and The Local Corner, outfitted with couches for a prime watching spot.

Founded in 2011, Puppetsburg is a female artist-owned and operated company that hosts fun, culturally relevant puppet shows for kids of all ages. And now, their interactive show is coming to Dumbo.  This month, Puppetsburg will be hosting two free shows at Time Out Market New York, Union Square. On Saturday, January 17, suit up for the "Arctic Explorers," where your little one will help search for the mystical Narwhal. On Saturday, January 24, the puppet show is throwing it back to the '90s with stick-on earrings, phones with cords, and a chance for kiddos to try on "The Rachel." Each 45-minute show will surely entertain your little one with dancing, instruments and bubbles. More than just a fun time, the show regularly explores concepts suitable for children, such as counting, simple vocabulary and hygiene. Puppetsburg is a uniquely contemporary puppet show that is entertaining for infants, toddlers and parents alike. Entry is free. 

Have a musical tot on your hands? We've got just the thing.   Macaroni KID Brooklyn NW has teamed up with Time Out Market New York, Dumbo, to present another free concert with the one and only Suzi Shelton and Hopalong Andrew. Hopalong Andrew, who will perform on Sunday, January 11, is known for his lasso-swinging performances set to music for a fun and informative show. He was named "the countrified king of our family entertainment circuit" by New York Magazine. Suzi Shelton, who will perform on Saturday, January 31, creates music that inspires children to sing, dance, and explore. Using props like books and egg shakers, plus appearances from her special friends, Grey Squirrel and Cinnamon Bear, these concerts will have your little ones dancing, clapping and singing along with a kids' entertainment superstar.  And, to start the day on the right note, you can order food and drinks right to the fifth floor. Breakfast options include Clinton St Baking Company, Doughnuttery, Ess-A-Bagel, Settepani and Drugstore. So head out to Time Out Market with your kids and make a day of it! The concert is free and open to the public. Doors open at 10am and the show starts at 10:15am. Designated stroller parking will be provided upon entry. Register for your free spot here.

One of the time-honored cocktails has to go to the martini. Dating back to the 1880s, the classic martini continues to live on as one of the greats in bar culture, whether you like it quintessentially dry or absolutely filthy. But if you are thirsting for more history behind your favorite drink, paired with a little cocktail how-to, then we've got just the thing. Introducing The Evolution of Classic Cocktails, only at Time Out Market New York, Union Square. Our two-part cocktail series dives into the story behind the iconic drink, plus offers hands-on assistance to help you shake and stir up your variation, your way.  For our first chapter on Thursday, January 15, we go back to the drink that started it all: the Old Fashioned. With our partners at Angel's Envy, you’ll shake, stir and sip your way through three variations: the classic old fashioned, the Manhattan and the Sazerac. But if you'd rather dive right into the tini itself, join us on Thursday, January 22, for an all-out martini-making class in conjunction with Grey Goose. There, you'll perfect the vodka martini—dry, dirty or dusty—the Vesper and the espresso martini. And before you bowl over with too much booze in your belly, Paninoteca by Anthony will be providing hearty bites for each class. So come, master the technique and discover what makes these cocktails the most enduring of all time. The Evolution of Classic Cocktails will be held on Thursday, January 15th and Thursday, January 22. Tickets are priced at $55

Millennials: Are you as sick of dating apps as the rest of us? While we didn't birth online dating, our generation certainly became the target market, from the early days of OkCupid to the rise of Tinder and Bumble. But if the idea of downloading another app just to have dead-end conversations makes you want to throw away your phone, we have the perfect event for you.  On January 21, ditch the apps and meet fellow singles in IRL at the Millennial Speed Dating Event. Hosted by Plenty of Parties, the speed dating event will be held at the Market, inviting all who are looking for love in the new year and a chance to meet, greet, and hopefully make a connection. Geared toward singles from 28 to 43, the fast-paced event will host mini-dates so you can introduce yourself, share your interests and get a sense of your match. After the rounds, the evening will transition into a social mixer, where guests can mingle freely, continue conversations and enjoy drinks priced for happy hour. Think you made a connection? Make it a real date and grab a bite together at one of our food stalls.  Tickets cost $32. Drinks and food are available for purchase. Reserve your spot here.

Not too long ago, a singular burger sparked a revolution in New York. It was a smash burger, whose seared edges and griddled glory spawned a trend we are still riding on. So where did it all start? All roads lead back to Smashed NYC.  But the craze it generated was all unintentional as for owner Mark Mendaros. For him, the burger was a matter of survival. Like many chefs, he had to pivot amid the pandemic. He closed his American bistro in the Lower East Side, fashioned a walk-up window and began hawking the best seller: the smash burger. Word quickly caught on, and within a year, smash patties became a hot trend. For Smashed, one location evolved into multiple, including one in Brooklyn, housed within our very own Time Out Market New York, Brooklyn. But now, as we look back on six years of razor-thin patties cropping up all across the boroughs, we have to ask, is the trend still going strong?  “I’ve watched the smash burger space grow a lot since we started,” says Mendaros. “We were the first to specialize in smash burgers here in NYC, but there is a lot of competition now." Recognizing that “the basics aren’t enough,” Mendaros has added the spice of variety to his menu, rotating through 13 different burgers, from bacon-jalapeno-topped numbers to a vegan variety.   “Smash burgers are popular now, but there is still room to surprise people,” he says. And it seems he has continued this noble mission at his latest location, now up and running in Manhattan.   Making its debut thi

Just a few more days before we reach the halfway point of January! So we must ask: how are those Dry January resolutions going? Still going strong? Congrats! Even if you fell off a bit, we are rooting for you, too. Whether you've subscribed to the driest part of the year or are just looking to cut back a bit, we’ve got a few non-alc options to help you breeze through the rest of the month in stride.   RECOMMENDED: These NYC bars officially serve the best non-alcoholic drinks in the city That's right, Time Out Market New York, Brooklyn, offers five spirit-free sips to get you through Dry January. Even better, they all hit under the $10 mark, so you can save while you sip.  First up is the Fleure Spritz ($8). The Aperol spritz-like dupe stirs in the herbaceous and citrusy Fluère Bitter alcohol-free aperitif as a base, giving it that telltale color and bite. A bit of lemon and club soda are added for a sparkling finish. The Fluere Naked & Famous ($10), however, blends the bitter Fluère varietal with a splash of Fluère Smoked Agave. Distilled from real agave, the mocktail has hints of honey and smoke on the nose, thanks to the incorporation of smoked hickory. And, much like the classic Naked & Famous cocktail, the drink gets its citrusy notes from a pour of fresh lime juice. Photograph: Courtesy of Luke Walter| Phony Negroni Behind the bar, we’ve also got a flight of non-alcoholic bottled cocktails from the Brooklyn-made spirits company, St. Agrestis. You can choose from the cl

We recently called out this East Village eatery as our number one restaurant in NYC. Inadvertently, we also found our new number one bar in a similar stretch of lower Manhattan. It isn't too surprising: a stellar number of drinking dens call the East Village home, from a new-ish Caribbean affair where daiquiris reign supreme to an iconic, speakeasy-esque haunt that kickstarted a cocktail renaissance. Our new number one follows the same line of greatness, dishing out matcha and mint frozens, plus salad Negronis, and a glorious snack best enjoyed fresh from the bag. Plus, it is also home to one of the best bathrooms we've seen in sometime. Without further ado: Bar Snack is officially our number one bar in New York right now.  Although it only turned one last November, the East Village bar has already racked up some well-earned recognition: it was a finalist in the “Best New Cocktail Bar” category of the Spirited Awards hosted by the industry-minded festival and expo, Tales of the Cocktail, and it also landed in the number 85 spot on North America's Best Bars ranking. Hawking “dressed up classics for dressed down people,” the bar earned a top spot on our list for its whiskey sours with smooth toppers of Guinness, bitters-heavy Twisted Tea’s served from the same can and a frozen that drinks like a "limeade popsicle but with a touch of smoke.” And, if it wasn’t clear by the name, the bar also has a killer list of snacks, particularly the Spice Bag that’s sure to soak up any bad b

After spending much of last year dipping in and out of nearly 150 eateries (!), from longstanding institutions to popular taco trucks, I figured it was high time to crown a new number one for 2026. And after a few repeat visits and one delightful butter-based experience later, our number one restaurant in New York goes to the comeback kid, Adda. Photograph: Courtesy of Alex Lau| Interior of Adda I’ll be the first to say, I never got the chance to make it to the original and more casual Adda that stood in Long Island City for nearly a decade, the very one that put chef Chintan Pandya and Roni Mazumdar’s style of unapologetic cookery on display. But I am thoroughly enjoying the second act that has been resurrected in the East Village, both for its balance of something old (re-introducing their bouncy, creamy paneer and the steamed, custardy goat brain) and something entirely brand-new: the Butter Chicken Experience.  What exactly is a Butter Chicken Experience, you ask? The restaurant took its beloved dish and turned it into a tableside treat for $42 per person. Before you write it off as a gimmick, I am here to confirm that it exceeds expectations. For only six tables each night, one of the restaurant's chefs wheels up to the table armed with a smoker of charred heritage-breed chicken, still steaming hot. You'll get to choose the woodchips and—best of all—the butter for the namesake specialty. Current options include an earthy and floral fenugreek, a smoked chili that defini

Always thinking about food? Yeah, us too. But worry not, Time Out Market New York, Union Square, is here to feed you. The Manhattan market has a handful of vendors, backed by award-winning talent, ready to nourish you day and night with smashed burgers, stellar sandwiches and all the crab fried rice you can handle. Thirsty? We have that handled, too. All you have to do is saunter up to the 360-degree bar for crafted cocktails, wine and even beer inspired by the Market. But to truly make it a meal, we've made some recommendations to pair your next meal with a drink that matches. Photograph: Courtesy of Melissa Hom| Wagyu kebab at Kebabwala Borough Buck with the Prime NY Strip Beef Bihari from Kebabwala It would be relatively uncommon to find Wagyu at a roadside kebab stand in India. But lucky for us, Wagyu is a common occurrence at chef Chintan Pandya’s kebab stand in the Market. Here at Kebabwala, marinated hunks of beef hit the grill, cozied next to skewered slices of onions and red peppers. Wonderfully charred, the kebabs are then finished with a fiery and aromatic dusting of red chili, cumin and dried mango powder. For us, we think it is more flavor than fire. But if you need a little help to cull the heat, the Borough Buck ($15) will certainly be up to the task. The vodka mule with pomegranate and lime juices plus a bit of fizz from the ginger beer will surely keep you cool, thanks to a combo of mint syrup plus fresh sprigs of the stuff. Photograph courtesy of Time Ou

When you finally sneak away for that lunchtime break, you only have time for so much. Standing in line? Jostling at the counter with couriers? Waiting behind that indecisive person who just can’t make up their mind? Ain’t nobody got time for that. That’s why at Time Out Market New York, Union Square, we’ve made getting you to your food that much easier.    And how have we done that? With the Taste Time Out app, of course. Available on the Apple Store, the Taste Time Out app makes it easy to thumb through hundreds of dishes at the marketplace, from top-notch burgers to Caribbean patties, cooked fresh from our talented line-up of chefs. All you have to do is scroll and select what fits your fancy, choose dine-in or to go and place your order in a snap. Plus, you can link your debit and credit cards so you can pay with a click. But more than just for ease of ordering, our app has plenty of perks for the taking. That’s right—joining our app enrolls you in our Taste Time Out loyalty program, giving you access to discounts, exclusive offers and, the best perk of them all, free food. Here’s what being a loyal member can get you: Photograph: Courtesy of Time Out Union Square| Time Out New York, Union Square Becoming a loyal fan gets you access to secret menu items… Some of New York’s best dishes aren’t found on menus. Several of our vendors have hush-hush menu items—think secret sandwiches from Paninoteca by Anthony, a spicy starter from Kam Rai Thai and a rotating market fresh cre

Iconic eats in New York just hit different. Of course, we do the gamut of pizza, burgers, and hot dogs galore so incredibly well that people travel in just for a taste. However, the great thing about New York is that our icons reflect the diverse cultures and cuisines found throughout our city. Meaning our excellent eats dabble in shredded pork and steak tacos to Jamaican patties that draw a crowd. Hungry for more? Of course you are. Here are some essential New York dishes that can be found inside Time Out Market, Union Square. RECOMMENDED: The 35 best restaurants in NYC right now Fornino The iconic NY dish: pizza What to order: Lombardi ($23) Michael Ayoub was well aware of his city’s love affair with a good slice. So when the Brooklyn native decided to open his own pizzeria, he knew he had to knock it out of the park. Twenty-plus years later, it's clear that his hybrid Neapolitan and New York pies, dubbed Neo-Neapolitan, are a certified hit. Try the best of both worlds by ordering the Lombardi with prosciutto, arugula, mozzarella, Parmesan and fresh shavings of lemon zest.  Kam Rai Thai The iconic NY dish: fried rice What to order: Crab Meat Fried Rice ($20) When my dad first brought home a steaming box of fried rice, let's just say it was my go-to order for years to come (and still is to some extent). And I am here to tell you that Kam Rai Thai’s interpretation of it is easily one of the best I’ve had. And that's because their Crab Meat Fried Rice is uber generous when it

Chef Dhanapol "Oak" Marprasert is a well-known figure on New York’s Thai scene, moving seamlessly from recreations of street classics to modern interpretations. His spark in the kitchen, however, came from a humble source: his mother.   Marprasert was born in Washington, D.C., into a Thai army attaché family, which later moved to Bangkok's Samsen neighborhood. After his father’s passing, his mother supported him and his two siblings by always keeping food on the table, with an eager Marprasert always ready to assist. To this day, her spirit stays with him. “Whenever I cook, I always think about my mother,” remarked Marprasert.  After graduating from culinary school in Bangkok, Marprasert returned to the States, landing in Tennessee in 2014. He began his career in a Thai restaurant, starting as a dishwasher and working his way up the ladder. Before long, he set his sights on New York, eager to bring his cooking to a larger audience.   "The allure of New York City was undeniable. I saw it as an unparalleled opportunity to bring my unique interpretation of Thai cuisine to a global stage,” he said. “I thrive on healthy competition, and the vibrant culinary landscape of the 'Big Apple' felt like the perfect fit." He started a business in Queens, drawn to the local scene and its "demand for truly authentic Thai food, much like what you'd find in Thailand itself." He and his wife, Jiraporn “Jina” Tisopa, have since met that demand, first with the affordable street eatery Makin in Mi

While most kids spent their waking weekend hours parked in front of the TV, a young Anthony Valois was already up and in line with his father—ready and waiting to be one of the first customers to be let inside their favorite Italian deli. Even now, the smell alone is enough to bring him back to the good times.  “Opening up that door and the smell of cured meats [and] the chaos of what's going on behind the counter—everything was intoxicating,” said Valois.  As a first-generation Italian-American growing up in Brooklyn, food was a huge part of Valois’s livelihood, with vivid memories of grandparents canning tomatoes and school lunch boxes filled with cheeses and mortadella. From an early age, he grew to understand the importance of his food and its ties to his culture. “I started appreciating what goes into Italian cuisine, the philosophies and how to respect the ingredients,” he said, curious about the regionality of cheese and meats at a young age. At one point, he even romanticized opening a trattoria in his homeland. But life goes on, and so did Valois. As a young adult, he briefly attended college, but left after receiving an opportunity to intern on Wall Street. There he stayed for 22 years in the private equity and fund management sectors. Over the years, the little interest he had in the profession faded, and Valois leaned on food to excite him again. But it wasn’t the food of the old country that drew him in. Instead, it was all American barbecue.  “Barbecue seemed

And just like that, Time Out Market New York, Union Square, is opening tomorrow!  After months of planning, prep and everything inbetween, the doors to our Time Out Market New York, Union Square, will open on Friday, September 26 at 8am. Located at 124 East 14th Street, the 20,000 square foot destination found in the heart of Union Square Park will feature seven kitchens powered by some of New York’s finest chefs, a full service bar stocked with coffees and to go goodies in the morning and mid-afternoon and a curated mix of cocktails, wines and beers to usher in the evening. A soon-to-be cultural hub, the market will soon host artists, musicians and more cultural figures that define NYC.   A sister to our Time Out Market New York, Dumbo, our latest market opening marks two important milestones for the Time Out brand as a whole. One, this is the first time that two marketplaces have existed in the same city. And two, the new market clocks in as the smallest of the worldwide locations. But even small packages can be plenty mighty.  “Compared to our existing larger flagships, this is our first smaller neighborhood Market, dedicated to highlighting rising talents alongside local favorites as well as emerging home-grown artists, and to being a space for the local community to come together, from people living and working in this neighborhood, students from nearby universities, or visitors wanting to experience local food and culture,” said VP of US Time Out Markets Virginia Rector

Back in February, we told you that you’d soon be seeing double, as we announced another Time Out Market in New York, this time in Union Square. Last month, we dropped a hit list of some of New York’s most talented chefs around…all of which happen to be heading to the market. And now, we can finally reveal when it is all going down. Time Out Market Union Square is officially opening on Friday, September 26 on the ground floor of Zero Irving (124 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003). Our first neighborhood Market—a smaller, more intimate format will soon swing open its doors, ready to welcome you over a specially curated line-up of foods, drinks and a huge dose of culture. RECOMMENDED: It’s official: here are all the chefs coming to Time Out Market Union Square Need a refresher on who is coming to the market? We got you. Critically acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi is bringing the Caribbean vibe with his patty stand, Patty Palace. James Beard Award-winning chef Chintan Pandya of the Unapologetic Foods crew—aka the heavy hitters behind Adda, Dhamaka and Semma—will be harnessing the energy of a night market in Delhi with his long-awaited kebab spot, Kebabwala. Michelin-rated tacos are coming by way of Taqueria El Chato, thanks to the team-up of chef Gerardo Alcaraz and Chris Reyes. An award-winning pitmaster and a master of Thai cuisine, chef Dhanapol "Oak" Marprasert and his wife Gina are opening a second location of their beloved Astoria restaurant, Kam Rai Thai. Fornino is makin

For me, 2025 came and went like a flash. Yet, what is left behind is a series of trends that defined the scene. The year started off strong as New Yorkers braved the cold for a baked good, lining up and saying hello to 2.0 versions of bakeries (Radio Bakery, L'Appartement 4F, and Win Son Bakery), while making room for ube-glazed doughnuts (Kora) and shops that offered only cinnamon rolls (Sunday Morning). Our love of carbs is clear, so much so that a pastry-fueled marathon fielded over 5,000 sign-ups in 24 hours. Caribbean cuisine surely defined the year, with pepper shrimp and cassava dumplings finding their way in the fine dining sphere. According to the Michelin man, Japan's kaiseki cuisine is starting to edge out omakase, and Indian food continues to leave its mark, solidified by Semma's James Beard Award win and the rise of cocktail bars that shake up betel leaves and paneer. And as for wine? Nowadays, a bar is only as good as its snacks. Wine bars that solely stock cheeses in charcuterie? Out. Ones that serve a medley of banchan and tamarind-slicked snails? In. So it isn't surprising that this year, some of my best bites aligned with the trends, as I tore through habanero-roasted goat and Filipino pastries. But as someone who eats out multiple days of the week, and sometimes twice in one day, all to find the best pizza, burgers, and steaks of the city, there were plenty of dishes that rose above the rest. Below, check out some of my best bites of the year. And if you n